Aussies on course for 3-0 series win

Friday 4 January 2002 00:00 BST

Australia are still odds-on favourites to win the Third Test against South Africa in Sydney - and with it gain a 3-0 series whitewash - but Gary Kirsten and Boeta Dippenaar led a fightback with an 149-run second-wicket century partnership in the tourists' second innings.

South Africa were 209 for two at stumps with Kirsten not out 82 and new batsman Jacques Kallis on 32 - still needing a further 191 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Earlier, South Africa crashed to 154 all out before lunch on the third day and Australian skipper Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on with the Proteas finishing exactly 400 behind the home side's first innings total.

Resuming on 93 for four, the tourists lost Neil McKenzie after only three balls when he was bowled by Shane Warne for 20.

The Aussie leg-spinner struck again in his next over trapping Justin Ontong lbw for nine.

Glenn McGrath then had skipper Shaun Pollock caught in the covers by Damien Martyn and Nicky Boje was run out for seven after slipping going for a third run.

Vice-captain Mark Boucher reached 35 before he fell to a brilliant catch by Ricky Ponting off Warne and then Stuart MacGill finished off the innings when he had Claude Henderson caught by McGrath off a skier.